Shabby and lumbering, with a face like a Norfolk dumpling, Father Brown makes for an improbable super-sleuth. But his innocence is the secret of his success: refusing the scientific method of detection, he adopts instead an approach of simple sympathy, interpreting each crime as a work of art, and each criminal as a man no worse than himself. This complete edition brings together all of the Father Brown stories, including two not previously available in Penguin: 'The Donnington Affair', in which Chesterton rises to the challenge of solving a murder-mystery half written by someone else (Max Pemberton), and 'The Mask of Midas', which was found in Chesterton's papers after his death.

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I have been reading Agatha Christie mysteries for years and noted in one of the biogrqphical sketches about her that she and Chesterton were contemporaries and collaborators. So when I finished a "Complete Collection" of Christie works which wss nowhere near complete, I decided to give Father Brown a try.

Based on another review, I understand that three key works are not included in this "complete" collection and while that is disappointing, I feel that I have already gotten my 99-cents worth. I have been reading this book for weeks...usually a story or two a night...and, according to my Kindle, I'm still only 46% through the collection.

So far I have been enthralled with Father Brown, a rumpled and humble version of Hercule Poirot. While Poirot is tidy, arrogant and opinionated, Father Brown is self-deprecating, courteous and quiet. But Father Brown's mind, like Poirot's, is a steel trap. And, like Poirot, Father Brown has a way of circumventing the obvious to zone in on hidden reality. Anyone who is a fan of Poirot certainly must be a fan of Father Brown.

The other reviewer who identified the missing works not included in this collection also recommended the "Complete Father Brown Mysteries [annotated,...]" and I assume that means the three missing works are included. While I'm happy with this version, I suspect I'll spend another 99-cents to get the annotated version in order to finish the entire Father Brown collection. I strongly recommend Father Brown and suggest that the annotated version might be a better choice for the same price.

I love Father Brown. I read this series because I love Chesterton, and I think he is a phenomenal writer. Some of the short stories are better than others, but overwhelmingly, they are all excellent little mysteries solved by Father Brown. He is a phenomenal character and the current TV series doesn’t do justice to his character. I would highly recommend this collection to anyone who loves to read a good story.

I love reading classic novels from time to time and I have enjoyed reading these stories. When I sat down to read through this collection it took me a while to begin to be able to be able to read it easily. The writing is filled with descriptive words used in the early 20th century. Since these stories are about solving crime and the author is trying to keep us in the dark until he reveals little clues and solves the mystery at the end it takes a while to learn how to read these stores. It is almost a different language if you will. If you don't want to work at learning how Mr. Chesterton weaves his stores, then skip this book. But if you a determined reader, stick with it and you will learn how the author weaves his stories and as you go along you will understand verbage he uses.

Classic mysteries and the complete collection of short stories...the perfect treat for reading on a trip or in a hotel room. I found several stories that I had never had the pleasure of reading before and a few that I had recently seen on Masterpiece Theater!